Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned a deadly Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, expressing condolences to Saudi Arabia in a rare public statement as the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels escalate their attacks on the kingdom.
The attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike, the third attack on the airport in a week.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which claimed the lives of 12 innocent people and injured hundreds more,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered and our wishes for a full recovery to the injured.”
Netanyahu said terrorism sought to spread fear and instability and “must be confronted with resolve”.
“Israel looks forward to a strong Middle East – one that stands united against threats, protects its people, and builds a future of security, cooperation, and prosperity for all the peoples of our region,” he added.
The statement is notable given the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, despite previous US-led efforts to broker normalisation.
The two countries have shared concerns about Iran’s aggression across the Middle East, but the Gaza war complicated efforts to establish formal ties as part of the US-led Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia has made normalisation of relations with Israel conditional on the establishment of a Palestinian state, or at least a credible and irreversible pathway towards one, while also seeking US security guarantees and civilian nuclear cooperation as part of a broader deal.
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